Nomercy

It really depends on how frequently the area gets used. If there is high camper traffic, one of two things will happen. Either the deer move off entirely, or they grow accustomed to the visitors and won't notice you holding a rifle instead of a camera.

I used to spend a lot of time fishing on a large pond my grandpa owned when I was in high school. We were out there so much between fishing, working the cattle in the pasture, swimming in the pond, cutting firewood, etc etc, the deer got so used to people they'd come down to drink within a stone's throw of us while we were fishing...yeah, that was an easy deer season.

grizzmck

Although I've shot deer from camp and I hunt in OK, we've also mistakenly camped right on top of what was an excellent run. That was many years ago and well "ooops". My advice is to camp just lower than a high spot on any ridge that you can find level ground or a small meadow on. Youshould have decent access to out roads in case of a string of really bad weather. It is generally better to be on the northwest side as prevailing winds are from south and east. This will prevent flooding and other lowland hazards. Hunt as far from yourcamping area as you are comfortable with. Put up markers as I've hunted the area you mentioned and it can get really dark and really lost in there.Two kinds of beasties of the deer variety roam those hills: ridge runners (generally pushed up by hunters) and gully hiders. They sneak from low spot to low spot, up from the creek channels and such. They can be ambushed if you're quiet and lucky. :-) Best of luck. Grizz

bassfisherman711

Thanks ladies and and gentlmen...i am going to be down in the Jefferson National Forest. I go to Virginia Tech and love teh area around here, so will be coming back down this way (i live in Charlottesville). I am going to hunt near Mt. Rogers. Ive read a lot about hunting public land in the more recent issues of some hunting magazines and have gotten some good pointers. It sounds like this area i will be going is RARELY used...so should be some decent deer there if i can find them. Scent elimination will be the biggest tast.

So i dont get lost, i think im going to purchase a GPS and just mark where camp is then i can get back easy enough.

So people have asked me, isnt it going to be hard to drag a deer out of there? but seeing as this is only my second season hunting (shoot one doe last year with a rifle) i will glady drag a buck (praying i shoot one) or even a doe out of there.

I am pretty excited!

wis_bow_huntr

Deer seem to be getting used to some many changes at a very fast rate, id say camp where you want the deer wont be far away, theres millions out there.